Responsibly breeding happy dogs for happy homes

Today the pups are two weeks and three days old so time for their first worming experience. It does not lend itself for a great photo opportunity as it was a very messy experience for all concerned. The pups are now white but with a rosy pink mouth, very attractive. Maybe photos will follow later ……………………..

Nine happy contented puppies all lined up at the milk bar. Ten days old and a couple of the pups have opened their eyes today seeing us and their surroundings for the first time. They are all beginning to walk as well so the whelping box will be extended this weekend to accommodate their natural sense of adventure.

The puppies are a week old today and their nails are getting a bit on the long side and need trimming – a massive task when you have 9 x 18 to trim, my do they wriggle. the picture below is after the episode has been completed, all fast asleep so no worse off for it.

Below is a puppy from our litter in 2014, Ambersclan Jack of Diamonds as he was as a puppy and how he is now. The photograph of ‘Ben’ was taken by his owner Carol who very kindly said we could publish it. He was a beautiful puppy then and he is certainly beautiful now, inside and out.

It is difficult to believe just how quickly these little blond babies grow, in just under five days they have gained more than 50% in weight. They are developing in front of your eyes growing in confidence and character. Here are some photos taken this morning of the boys –

Master Ebony Master Ebony Master Green

Master Blue

These youngsters certainly have good appetites and we are ensuring Indi has all the nutrients and food she needs to cope with her litter. When Amber our first Golden Retriever came into our lives 15 years ago from a breeder local to us, who is now a good friend, she mentioned that for the first couple of weeks a mix of Oats, Water, Glucose, Honey and Complan be given to the mother of the pups twice a day in addition to the two meals of their normal food. It is such an energy boost and they absolutely love it. Kind of like us having porridge in the morning before the day ahead. So we have heeded to that advice and it does make a big difference. As I write this blog Indi is lapping up her helping to help her through the night with the feeding regime.

Three nights ago Indi who is 3 years old gave birth to her first litter of nine healthy pups. Mum and pups are doing very well and the pups are being weighed daily to ensure they have weight gain and none are being pushed away from the milk bar and left behind. It is such a joy sharing the birth and the delight in seeing such beautiful babies being born despite the sleepness nights ensuring all is well with them during the first three weeks.

We are delighted that all but one of our puppies have gone to new homes. We deliberately took our time in selecting families who could offer time, love and in our opinion the best home. We always keep in touch with all our puppies new owners and believe in a lifetime commitment.

Master Ivory who started off as Master White, then Master Blanc because we live in France. He then affectionately became Raymond Blanc after the chef and then Ramondo. So he now answers to that name. He is a lovely boy who we kept back deliberately as we would have liked him to have gone to a show home. That would have been our preference but a happy home that ticks all the boxes is what is important for this beautiful boy.

He is such a character, very talkative, not in the barking sense but in like a grumbling communication sense. He is very affectionate, has fantastic bone and a beautiful head. We love him very much but sadly cannot keep him as we already have five Goldens.

We know the right family will soon come along very soon that can give him the fantastic life he deserves. When he does go he will be very much missed. The photos show the character he is.

That was two years ago and we are delighted that he is living with a good friend of ours and is very happy, it was no time at all before he was seen and loved and found his new forever home.

Wow, just can’t believe how quickly the time goes, from tiny little babies weighing just around 400 grams to big bundles of energy 5 kilos plus. Meal time takes so long in avoiding ten sets of paws, ten little mouths grabbing at your ankles and ten thriving bodies getting in the way and all you are trying to do is place their food down for them, it is a long process taking precision and accuracy. That said, they are all thriving and eating us out of house and home.

The trip to the Vet for their primary vaccinations and microchip went smoothly, only one poo and one sickness to clear up. All pups were great and all had health checks done making sure everything was how it should be and everything had dropped as they should have.

The puppies are changing all the time and there are some real characters developing. Flame still wants to play Mum but is very fast in retrieving from them as they are a handful so a couple of minutes is all she allows which is good as they need to be fully weaned.

If anyone who reads our blog would love one of our pups and the time of year is an issue due to planned holidays, fear not. We will always look after our pups here in our home after they have left so you can enjoy your holiday knowing your pup is safe and happy and well cared for.